Even if Nick Nurse is, a priori, not threatened, the Sixers are sinking dangerously in the standings. Worse, bad luck has decided to come after them! Beaten 117-111 in Memphis, teammates Guerschon Yabusele are in last place in the Eastern Conference, and they lost Paul George again… who meets Tyrese Maxey, who was making his comeback.
During the first minutes, the Sixers experimented with their new “Big Three” and it was Brandon Clarke who was responsible for responding to him. Under the panels, we find the real Joel Embiid, stuffed with balls, and after twelve minutes, Nick Nurse's players are in contact (31-31). The rest will be much more complicated because the Memphis shooters enter into a competition, with Luke Kennard and Jay Huff lighting the first fuses (40-33). In Philly, Andre Drummond runs the house, and we have to wait for the return of Embiid for the Sixers to pick up the score (45-41).
The Sixers close to the heist
It's short-lived because the 3-point contest continues on the Memphis side, and it's the turn of Demond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr to take over.
Under their leadership, the Grizzlies finished the half with an 8-0 lead to lead 53-43 at the break. Returning from the locker room, it was a festival of clumsiness, and it was Yabusele who broke the deadlock after three minutes. Coming into play in place of Paul George, the Frenchman is on fire, and he keeps the Sixers in contact (68-64).
But he and Joel Embiid have no support, and the Grizzlies collective is the difference. “JJJ” does a lot of undermining work, and at 3-points, Santi Aldama restores a 10-point lead (85-75). The Grizzlies master their subject, and Jaylen Wells flirts the gap with 20 points (109-90).
Just when we think that the two coaches are going to open their bench, the Grizzlies fall asleep! With Joel Embiid as leader, the Sixers signed an 11-0 in two minutes, and they came back to four units (115-111) with 54 seconds remaining. Behind, the Sixers have a new possession to get closer but Joel Embiid loses the ball, and it is Jaren Jackson Jr who validates the Grizzlies' victory on free throws.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Paul George injured. As in preseason, Paul George was injured. And as in preseason, it is a hyperextension of the left knee. The Sixers super rookie is resuming a subscription to the infirmary, and first, he will take exams this Thursday to find out the severity of his injury.
– Taylor Jenkins in the story. Thanks to this victory, the Grizzlies coach becomes the most successful coach in the history of the franchise. With 215 career victories, he surpasses Lionel Hollins.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
